Popular destinations of many vacationers include any number of amusement and recreation theme parks geared specifically to family fun and entertainment. They are appealing for their variety of rides and activities, or for the tie-in with popular cartoon characters or other mascots.

They can also quickly propel the child with Asperger's Syndrome into total overload without careful planning. Remember, your child wants to please and wants to blend (and may have enthusiastically anticipated the trip), but no child deliberately seeks the public embarrassment and humiliation of a meltdown in the middle of Frontier Land because of improper planning or pacing.

This “behavioral” communication is a last resort when all else has failed. Weigh whether you think an amusement park vacation is appropriate for your child in the context of your family makeup.

As mentioned before, engage your child in assisting you to prepare for attending a theme park by researching all the details: how far, mode of travel, where to stay, how much, etc. Again, if there is a way to link any of the theme park activities to one of your child's passions, this is best.

If your child is interested in oceanography, SeaWorld might be a better option over some other attraction. If the theme park is located in an area with other “spin-off” type activities and amusements on a smaller scale, can your child attend one of those with a designated adult instead of the park? Interactive science or natural history museums, zoos, or a curiosity like a Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum may provide a calmer, slower-paced atmosphere that your child may find conducive to becoming absorbed in the subject matter.

At the Park

Once you decide upon a place to visit, contrive a schedule in partnership with your child. Theme parks are notorious for large crowds and long lines. You know your child best and have a sense of his endurance and tolerance thresholds.

Build in breaks and downtime throughout the day. A quiet lunch may work for some kids, while others may need the total solitude offered by a nap or reading time in the hotel room. Stick to the schedule to the very best of your ability and pay attention to your child for any signs that the vacation is wearing thin on him, which he may not be communicating.

If your child becomes easily distracted by noise — especially unpredictable noises like train whistles, buzzers and bells, or other loud sounds emanating from rides — wearing an iPod and listening to favorite music will be a survival tool.

Another coping strategy is to appoint your child the responsibility of taking photographs to share with family and friends. Disposable cameras make this easy and inexpensive, even if you are also using a camera of your own. You may also allow your child to record the highlights of your activities with a camcorder, with your child directing the “movie” and providing the narration, of course.

Waiting in line can be a frustrating exercise in patience for many kids. The child with Asperger's may not immediately understand why it's necessary to wait in line. It may be helpful to prepare a written story, in advance of the trip, to review with your child before and during long waits in line. The story should include details about what to do and how to conduct oneself while waiting.

It may also be a good time to play visual memory games about the surroundings, review the day's written agenda (maintained by your child), or discuss what you anticipate may be experienced on the ride.

Many theme parks offer a faster, alternate line for people with disabilities to quickly board rides and other amusements. Selecting this alternative may be publicly stigmatizing for your child with Asperger's Syndrome, although many parents of children with autism swear by this convenience. Also be advised that, because your child doesn't present with obvious outward differences, you may receive the evil eye from those you are passing ahead of on your way to board a ride.

An option may be to purchase an “easy pass” or “fast pass” usually offered for some attractions. Learn about the rules and premium costs involved to access such a system. It may be that the passes are available only at certain times for certain rides, which may cause you and your child to rearrange your schedule. Find out as many details in advance to aid in your planning.

As with any of your children, you will want to be certain that your child with Asperger's is hydrated with cooling liquids throughout the day, wears sunblock (and a hat, if tolerated), and stays as comfortable as possible while waiting in very warm conditions. He may not know to express his growing discomfort or may be oblivious to it entirely.

Check Out the Rides

Riding certain rides can look tempting and exciting — until you're a passenger. Take the time to carefully observe any ride you are considering with your child prior to boarding. The thrill of most amusement rides is based on surprise, fear, and strong centrifugal force. The extreme emotional and physical stimulation may be too much for your child to endure.

If you feel anxious about how you would feel riding a certain attraction, it's probably a good measuring tool to deny your child admittance. As a guide, many amusement parks and carnivals offer brochures that are coded to indicate appropriate age levels. Usually, there is a size standard against which your child may be measured prior to getting in line. (Visibly posted height-requirement signs may indicate something to the effect of “You must be this tall to ride this ride.”) Combine this with your intuition as a parent to make a final decision.

In fact, it will likely be best if you agree to start slowly with gentle rides, paying careful attention for signs of overstimulation (obviously if your child is dizzy beyond ambulation or vomits after disembarking the Tilt-a-Whirl, it's a clear indication that a repeat ride is not a good idea). When boarding a ride, make sure your child is seated properly with the restraint system fully latched before the ride begins. Ask the ride operator for assistance in manipulating the restraint system if you need it.

Most restraint systems are not designed to prevent a large child who is absolutely determined to exit the ride from doing so. Of course, this can endanger the child and other passengers, resulting in injury or death. Ensure that your child is clear in understanding the written rules about the ride, such as keeping arms and hands inside it and not trying to unlatch and disembark while the ride is in motion. Once a ride starts, it can rarely be stopped except in the most extreme circumstances and only if an attendant can be notified.

Evaluate the Experience

After each ride, process the experience with your child to gather her impressions and tolerance level. You may be surprised — some kids absolutely relish the sensory feedback they derive from seemingly violent, whirling, spinning, upside-down-turning rides. She may beg you to ride “one more time” after the fourth time!

As with any of your children, your acquiescence is entirely at your discretion. Be aware that many amusement rides feature flashing and spinning lights that may vary in intensity or kick up in intensity once the ride starts. The concern here is that this constant “strobe light” flickering may induce seizure activity in one already prone to such. In addition to scheduling downtime, it may be best to pace the sequence of activities, like riding a roller coaster followed by attending the dolphin show, then on to an exhibit display before tackling another fast-paced ride.